Bella

Rosha Bellatrix Gamma Orionis 18 April 2002 - 20 July 2011

Bella was a very different sort of Dane. While most of her breed are pretty calm and steady, Bella always had a wild streak. As a puppy, she'd come crashing onto the bed every morning, attacking our feet through the covers, chewing on our fingers or licking our faces. She had boundless energy, treating every walk as a chance to run wildly. She engaged in mad midair dances with both Nandi and Rigel. She would run down soccer balls and other toys in a nearly uncontrolled fashion… we often remarked that she must have had a bit of insanity running in her family.

We had hoped to have her for a few more years, but at the age of nine she developed a heart arrhythmia, probably related to cardiomyopathy. On the same day this was detected, she died- instantly and peacefully at home. Her big heart just stopped beating. She was healthy and happy to the end. Perhaps for Bella, the expression live fast, die young really does define her life.